Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, July 22
Jul 22, 2010
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Federal office contradicts Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
A Government Accountability Office official contradicted a Florida Office of Insurance Regulation official over a report that reviewed nine of the nation’s residual catastrophe insurance programs.
A massive threat looms in the warm waters off Florida’s coast that could have a substantial impact on the economy of this state and its citizens.
Case Study: Tampa House Built to Sustainable and Storm-Resistant Standards
High-performance concrete block house can withstand 140-mph winds
As Florida’s housing market continued its struggle early last year, custom builder Bobby Alvarez realized it was time to differentiate his company. Demand was rapidly shrinking for the multi-million-dollar, 40,000-square-foot mansions the 28-year veteran of the Tampa building industry is known for.
Penny Named Regional President at Florida’s Brown & Brown
Brown & Brown Inc. has promoted J. Scott Penny to the position of regional president. Penny, who has served as a regional executive vice president since 2002, is responsible for oversight of retail profit center operations of Brown & Brown subsidiaries in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio and Washington.
Report: 246,000 Florida small businesses qualify for healthcare credits
Though critics of healthcare reform say many small businesses will be hammered by the new federal law, more than 80 percent of Florida’s small businesses with fewer than 25 employees will be eligible for tax credits to help pay the cost of employee health coverage, according to a report released Thursday by a Washington-based consumer healthcare group.
Florida doctors to consider splitting ties with AMA over healthcare reform
The Florida Medical Association is scheduled to consider the issue at its annual meeting next month. The House of Delegates of the Florida Medical Association is scheduled to consider a resolution severing ties with the American Medical Association because of its support for the healthcare reform law.
State tests find nothing in Acreage soil linked to brain cancer
After more than a year of a government investigation that cost at least $250,000, Acreage residents don’t have anything to blame for their community’s cancer cluster – and they might never have a culprit.
Florida House Speaker moves ahead with own oil spill response workgroup
Flatly rejecting Gov. Charlie Crist’s order to put an offshore drilling ban on the November ballot in Tuesday’s aborted special session, House Speaker Larry Cretul is forging ahead with his own response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster.
GOP lawmakers express mixed views on decision to ditch Charlie Crist’s oil session
Gov. Charlie Crist promised property tax relief Wednesday for those hit by the Gulf of Mexico oil crisis, earning praise from some of the very lawmakers who refused to hear policy solutions during this week’s truncated special legislative session.
Federal judge rejects Florida demand for water in dispute
A federal judge has declined Florida’s request to release more water from a north Georgia dam to protect three threatened or endangered species downstream.
Florida unemployment extension fix fails, state Rep. Rader appeals to Crist
The U.S. Senate made strides Tuesday to approve an extension of unemployment benefits that will give out-of-work Americans till November to enroll in the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, and fully fund Extended Benefits programs in states – like Florida – suffering from high unemployment.
Blog: Obama makes district court nomination for South Florida
President Obama this evening nominated Kathleen M. Williams to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Williams, a University of Miami law school grad, has served as the federal public defender for the district since 1995 and was previously an assistant U.S. attorney.
Governor Campaigns Trade Barbs Over Economic Plans
The two major Republican gubernatorial candidates are battling over the best way to spur the struggling state economy with almost a month to go before GOP voters decide who will be their nominee for governor.
Florida Citrus Industry Looks to Capitol Hill for Help
Federal action needed to fund fight against blight, lift ban on shipments of blemished fruit
Florida’s citrus industry didn’t get much help from the Legislature or Gov. Charlie Crist this year. Growers are hoping for better results in Washington, D.C.
DNC member paid by Greene before endorsing him
When a Democratic National Committee member sent an e-mail asking whom he should support in the Democratic Senate primary, at least one result came quickly.
Ocala U.S. Representative Stearns joins Bachmann’s Tea Party Caucus on Capitol Hill
The Tea Party has flexed its muscle on Capitol Hill again. On Wednesday U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann convened the inaugural meeting of the new Tea Party Caucus on Capitol Hill, a group of almost three dozen Republican lawmakers including Rep. Cliff Stearns of Ocala.
The big winner of Scott-McCollum ad war may be…Alex Sink
The biggest winner in the Republican gubernatorial ad war roaring on the airwaves could be one of the candidates spending the least: Democrat Alex Sink.
Column: St. Petersburg’s idea to thwart Hometown Democracy
This is clever, I do admit.
President Signs Financial Services Reform; Insurers Turn Focus To Regulations
President Obama has signed financial services reform legislation, setting in motion an intense effort by interested parties to shape the regulations that will implement the bill to their liking.
Obama Administration opposes adding windstorm cover to National Flood Insurance Program
The Obama administration announced Wednesday that it opposes legislation likely to receive a House vote on Thursday that would require the National Flood Insurance Program to offer windstorm as well as flood coverage.
Louisiana Citizens Can Open Whole Book To Take-Out Insurers
Louisiana insurers that choose to remove policies from the state’s last-resort insurer will now have their pick of policies rather than having to take them in a bundle, according to recent legislation.
Mississippi Faces Multiple Rate Hikes
Property insurance rate increases could become reality in Mississippi this year, but State Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney plans to deny the 44.4 percent rate increase request from Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance because an actuarial analysis found the request unsubstantiated.
Ford: Aftermarket bumpers used in repairs often inferior
A comparison of aftermarket replacement parts for critical safety components such as bumpers and vehicle supports found they often are inferior to parts made by automakers, Ford Motor reported Wednesday.
Consumer group: Health insurers kept surplus while hiking premiums
Non-profit Blue Cross and Blue Shield health plans stockpiled billions of dollars during the past decade, yet continued to hit consumers with double-digit premium increases, Consumers Union found in an analysis of 10 of the plans’ finances.
Vermont Captive Half-Year Formations Surpass ’09 Numbers
The State of Vermont’s captive insurance sector reported a strong first half of 2010, licensing 17 new captive insurance companies and surpassing 2009 half-year numbers as the state nears its 900-license milestone, officials said.
Claims Gets Backing from Weather Forensic Reports
ISO and Atmospheric and Environmental Research team to deliver instant online weather forensic data through ISO ClaimSearch
ISO and Atmospheric and Environmental Research, subsidiaries of Verisk Analytics, report that the ISO ClaimSearch system now includes a series of instant online Weather Forensic Reports to help insurers evaluate claims related to severe weather conditions.
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